Rotary sheet music holder



y 1, 1957 H. A. GREEN 2,792,666

ROTARY SHEET muszc HOLDER Filed May 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Henry A Green INVENTOR.

v M y 1957 H. A. GREEN 2,792,666

ROTARY SHEET MUSIC HOLDER Filed May 15, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 84 F/g.5l

Henry A.- Green INVENTOR.

United States Patent RQTARY SHEET NIUSIC HOLDER Henry A. Green, Frankfort, Ky.

Application May 15, 1956, Serial No. 534,928

6 Claims. (CI. 4558) The present invention relates to clamps and holders which are primarily associated with wind instruments and has reference in particular to the type of holder which has become to be known by band musicians as a lyre and which, as is well known, is bracketed or otherwise mounted on the instrument itself so that the composition of music, either in individual sheet or folio form, is perched into position for use while a band is on parade or performing at a football game or the like.

As is generally clear from the preceding general statement of the subject matter of the invention, so-called lyres and book and folio holders vary in construction but one may construe such a construction as characterized by a collar or the like which embraces the bell or body of the wind instrument, there being a bracket-like arm detachably and adjustably mounted thereon with the arm radiating from the bell so that the book clamp or other means on the outer end thereof may be situated in the line of'sight of the user thereof. Obviously, the necessity of turning leaves, or shifting from one march or similar composition to another is not easy of accomplishment even by the skilled or professional musician. What with the fact that band playing requirements often necessitate rapidly shifting from one strain or piece to another, there has long existed a need for a quick-change lyre or equivalent holder. To this end, it is an object in the instant matter to continue to mount an arm, stem or equivalent part on the bell or convenient body part of the instrument so that it radiates or assumes the proper angular position and provides a grip or clamp on the outer end thereof to hold the sheet or musical composition and to also provide means for securing the inner end in place.

More specifically, the concept here has to do with means on the outer end which allows the sheet of music to be swung through a complete circle so that one side may be played in a manner to complete, let us say, one composition. Then, the other side may be turned around through 180 degrees and positioned for use.

More importantly, the invention contemplates means embracing or surrounding the bell or equivalent part of the instrument which provides an adapter or mount and which serves to accommodate a hub or an equivalent structure which is rotatably mounted thereon and which is provided with a peripheral portion having circumferentially spaced arms each having on its outer end means for properly supporting the sheet of music for easy-toread use.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of a trumpet, or alternatively, a comet, showing the improved sheet music holder and the manner in which it is mounted on the instrument rearwardly or inwardly of the bell thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view with parts in section and elevation taken approximately on the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a section at right angles taken on the vertical line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view on a small scale showing how the invention, slightly revised in construction, may be satisfactorily employed on or in conjunction with a saxophone;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a conventional slide trombone showing a modification of the music holder and how it is constructed and used;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a section at right angles on the vertical line 77 of Figure 6.

Reference is had first to Figures 1-3 inclusive, wherein it will be seen that the numeral 10 designates a wind musical instrument which may represent either a trumpet or cornet. The only part with which we are here concerned is the portion on which the sheet music, book or equivalent composition holder is mounted. This may be referred to broadly as the bell 12 and therefore with reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the adapter means, broadly, is a suitably constructed mount. More specifically, the mount may be satisfactorily called a split or sectional collar and it is referred to broadly by the numeral 14. Appropriate substantially semi-circular half-sections or block-like members 16 have adjacent ends 18 suitably beveled or shaped as at 18 and hingedly connected together at 20. The opposite abutting ends are clipped and held by way of a suitable latch or clip 20 cooperating with a detent 22. When the collar is in position it forms what is in effect a track-like mount which may be treated as substantially endless and which serves to accommodate the correspondingly fashioned or constructed rotary hub 24. This is of circular form in the embodiment under consideration and is made up of a pair of semi-circular complemental half-sections 26 which are channel-shaped in cross-section and which embrace and are rotatably or shiftably mounted on the adapter mount 14'. Adjacent end portions are hinged together as at 28. One end portion is provided with a spring latch 30 which is engageable with a button-like detent 32 on the other section whereby the two sections may be thus latched together to serve as a rotatably mounted hub for the circumferentially spaced holders or, as they are sometimes referred to here, individual lyres. By having these in circumferentially spaced relationship and turnable in conjunction with the hub, it will be seen that they may be selectively and advantageously used in a highly desirable quick-change manner.

Each holder or lyre is the same in construction and, as before intimated, is characterized by a radially extending stem or arm 34. This is a simple rod member in the drawings as shown and the inner end 36 is welded or otherwise secured to the peripheral portion of the rotatable channel-type hub 24. The outer ends of the arms are suitably headed to accommodate socket mem bers 38 on the intermediate portion of a channel-shaped clip or grip 40. The grip plus the arm constitutes the lyre or holder and each holder is therefore denoted by the numeral 42. Any appropriate clamping grip 40 may be provided to accommodate the piece or sheet of music 44. It is obvious that this may be a single leaf with a composition printed on both sides or a stiff card with sheets mounted on both sides or even a folio or booklet. In any event, it is the musical composition or sheet which is to be supported and read by the user thereof. By swivelly mounting the holder 40 on the arm it will be seen that the holder may be so arranged that one side may be employed and the holder turned through an approximate half-circle and the other side brought into position for use. In any event, there is a hub with four equally distant circumferentially spaced lyres each of which has its holding means adjustable or turnable in the sense that it may be swivelled as described. It will be evident that with this construction eight distinct compositions or pieces of music may be prearranged and selectively and quickly used. The same general idea is applicable to the saxophone shown in Fig. 4 and denoted by the numeral 46. Here, a collar or mount is denoted generally by the numeral 48 and this is mounted on an L-shaped bracket 50 with flanges 52 and a nut 54 serving to secure the mount in place. The bracket is suitably and adjustably secured to a socket member 56 on the fixture 58 which is secured to the body of the saxophone. The channel-shaped hub which is rotatable on the mount 40 is denoted generally by the numeral 60 and is constructed as already described and provided with the aforementioned holders or lyres 42. It is felt that these may be referred to here by the same numerals already used to simplify the presentation and the reader may govern himself accordingly.

It is to be pointed out here that a rotary or revolving type sheet music holder or lyre obviously lends itself to use on varying wind musical instruments. It is contemplated, for example, that the parts will be constructed without radical deviation from the principle of the invention, to accommodatingly serve in conjunction with a clarinet, a French horn, a baritone horn, bass horn, etc. The device can also be used on a slide trombone, for example, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Because of the fact that a circular hub could not be employed because it would interfere with the operation of the slide, a slightly different construction is employed. To this end and with reference to Fig. 7, the collar-like mount is denoted by the numeral 62 and comprises semi-circular blocks or sections 64 hinged together at 66 (Fig. 6) and having their opposite ends latched together as at 68. The peripheral portion of this mount or collar is provided with an endless groove 70 and the collar is also sufiiciently large in cross-section to accommodate a pair of rotary hubs which are denoted generally by the numerals 72 and 74, respectively.

Each hub is the same as already described, that is, comprises substantially semi-circular half-sections 76 and 78 (Fig. 6) hinged together at 80 and with their free ends latched together as at 82. As is evident from Fig. 7, the two side-by-side so-called rotary hubs are thus mounted for rotation on the single mount or adapter collar. Each one is provided with four more-or-less holders each being the aforementioned lyre and for convenience being referred to here by the numerals 84. The construction is the same as already described in Fig. 2 and therefore the same reference numerals apply to the specific parts to avoid repetition. Consequently, this dual arrangement adapts the inventive concept to the slide trombone as is obvious.

Briefly, the following advantages may be associated with the invention as follows:

The rotary lyre makes possible a quicker change from one selection to another when band is on football and basketball field maneuvers. It eliminates the necessity of memorizing the music. It eliminates the necessity of separate lyre and folio. It combines the two. By being in one piece and fastened around some instruments it is not as easily lost during parades. and maneuvers as the conventional lyre and 'folio.

In using the device it is to be assumed that the selection or piece being played is in its upright playing position. When first section is completed, the musician simply pushes arm holding music folio to right one-quarter turn and second folio containing next section is in playing 4 position. The same operation continues until four selections are completed. When the last selection is completed, the musician then flips the folio around 180 to opposite side, which contains another selection. This same operation is continued until all numbers or pieces on the reverse side of each folio are played.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those Slillifid in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Vwhat is claimed as new is as follows:

1. in combination, a wind musical instrument, a trumpet for example, a music holding lyre embodying an arm, means at the inner end of the arm operatively fastening the same to a predetermined portion of the musical instrument and causing said arm to radiate therefrom, and .means at the outer end of said arm for gripping and supporting the music in an easy-to-read position While the instrument. is being played, said means being swivelly mounted so that either side of the music may be faced and displayed for use by the instrument player.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said first named means is rotatably mountedon said instrument in such a manner that said arm may be bodily shifted to either the left or the right of the line of vision of said player.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 and wherein said second named means comprises an elongate clip in which the piece of music, folio or the like, is removably and clampingly held, said clip being channel-shaped in crosssection.

4. F or use on and in conjunction with a musical instrL- ment, a wind instrument for example, a lyre-type holder for sheet music or the like comprising a rigid arm, a channel-shaped member swivelly mounted intermediate its ends on the outer end of said arm and adapted to receive and hold a sheet of music in a correct and easyto-read manner, a collar-like adapter designed to fit removably on the musical instrument and constituting a mounting track, and hub means rotatably mounted thereon, the inner end of said arm being attached to said hub means.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 and wherein said hub means is channel-shaped in cross-section and is made up of hingedly connected companion sections having adjacent ends hingedly connected together and their opposite ends releasably latched to each other.

6. An attachment for a wind musical instrument comprising an annular hub member embodying a pair of hingedly connected sections each channel-shaped in crosssection, a collar-like adapter for rotatably mounting said hub member on the stated wind instrument, a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending arms connected at their inner ends to said hub member, and means on the outer ends of said arms for holding and retaining sheet music or the like in a readily readible position.

References flirted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

